Flexible fastener for garments



July 30, 1968 1.. s. SINCLAIR FLEXIBLE FASTENER FOR GARMENTS Filed Sept. 21, 1965 United States Patent 3,394,437 FLEXIBLE FASTENER FOR GARMENTS Louise S. Sinclair, 1854 W. Chase, Chicago, II]. 60626 Filed Sept. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 488,939 4 Claims. (CI. 2473) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a pajama top, the buttons are secured to an elastic tape to prevent tearing away during sleep, The elastic tapes are hidden from view in a fold along the edge of one garment panel.

This invention relates to garments and more particularly to fastening elements between portions of garments such as may be employed in pajama tops.

The ripping and tearing of pajama tops adjacent the buttons is a universal problem. The stresses put on the garment during sleep tends to remove the buttons and to tear portions of the garment adjacent to the buttons and buttonholes. Every night people go to bed in pajamas from which one or more buttons have been torn. In the case of new pajamas, it is only a short time before one or more buttons will be torn from the garment due to the stresses subjected thereto during the relative displacement of the parts during sleep. The busy mother or housewife is confronted with the continual task of replacing torn-off buttons and repairing torn areas.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved fastener for garments that can accept the stresses between parts without damage. It is another object of the invention to provide a yieldable connection between garment pieces. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a device for attaching buttons to pajama tops that will prevent the tearing and ripping occasioned by exertion during sleep. It is still another object of the invention to relieve the stress between portions of a garment caused by pulling therebetween. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, and as particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational diagrammatic view of a pajama top embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the buttons in the pajama top illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the button of the pajama top embodying the invention before it is inserted in the buttonhole; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the button of the pajama top of FIG- URE 4 inserted through the buttonhole and subjected to stress, such as may be incurred during sleep.

The present invention is described in connection with a button for pajama tops. It is understood, however, that the invention is applicable to other garments, and to other types of fasteners.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a pajama top having a garment portion 11 to which is secured buttons 14, and a garment portion 12 containing buttonholes 15 for receiving the buttons 14. The garment portions are held together by inserting the buttons 14 through the buttonholes 15.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 5, there is shown an elastic tape that is fastened to the garment portion 11 at 22. The elastic tape 20 is secured at 22 preferably at the underside of the garment 11. As best shown in FIGURE 5, tape 20 anchored to the underside of the garment portion 11 passes under garment portion 11 and then through on opening 24 to button 14. The button 14 is secured to the tape 20 outside of the garment.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the tape 20 may be contained between a fold formed by superimposed pieces of material 30, 32 in the garment portion 11. The edge of the garment portion 11 may be folded back under the outer surface as at 30 and stitched at 31, although other techniques for making a fold may be used. The elastic tape 20 is contained between the folds 30 and 32 and passes to the outer surface of the garment through an opening at 24. The tape is in this way supported by and through opening 24. Also the tape is substantially hidden from view, thereby not detracting from the appearance of the garment.

From the foregoing, operation of the invention should be apparent. Referring to FIGURE 4, the button 14 is illustrated prior to insertion in buttonhole 15. The button 14 is secured to the garment portion 11 through the tape 20. The tape 20 is in relaxed condition, as shown in FIGURE 4, so the button 14 overlies and conceals the opening 24. At the same time the tape is concealed from view by the outer surface of the garment.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, the button 14 is shown inserted in the buttonhole 15, and the garment portions 11 and 12 have been separated. The separation of garment portions 11 and 12 illustrates a condition which obtains due to stresses occurring during sleep. In FIG- URE 5 the tape 20 is stretched or extended so as to relieve the stresses that might otherwise rip or tear the garment or pull the button loose.

It will be seen that by the invention hereinabove described that under the stresses presented by body movements during sleep, the button 14 through the elastic 20 will be allowed to extend from its normal position covering the tape to a position outwardly two or three inches therefrom, so as to preclude the damage to the garment. Moreover the tape itself usually will have to break before the button will tear away and the usual stresses imposed upon the garment will be accommodated by the flexibility of the tape.

Although there has been illustrated a single embodiment of the invention, it will be clear that various modifications may be made. For example, the button may be replaced by other types of fasteners, such as snaps, clasps, hooks and eyes, and the like. Instead of the elastic tape, there may be employed elastic threads, rubber straps, and other elastic materials. All of these various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I Claim:

1. In a closure means for releasably securing a first panel of fabric to a second panel of fabric, said first panel having at least one receiving means, said second panel having at least one fastening means aflixed thereto with a fastening element at the opposite end thereof adapted to be releasably secured by said receiving means, the improvement in said fastening means comprising: a

tape having elasticity and an elastic limit, said tape having less strength under tension beyond said elastic limit than said fabric in said first and second panels, whereby when said panels are pulled apart in normal use, said fastening tape will stretch to prevent said fabric from tearing and will return the panels to a closed position, and when unusual stress is placed upon the fastener after the elastic limit is reached, said fastener will tear before said fabric panels will.

2. An improvement in a fastening means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fabric is a pajama top and said first and second panels are front panels each having a front edge.

3. An improvement in a fastening means as claimed in claim 2 wherein said receiving means is a button hole and said fastening element is a button.

4. An improvement in a fastening means as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is a plurality of receiving means on said first panel spaced along the front edge thereof, a plurality of fastening means with fastening elements on said second panel along the front edge thereof spacedly adapted to be releasably secured by said receiving means respectively, said front edge of said second panel including a portion folded under the outer surface and stitched thereto to form a fold, a plurality of openings in the outer surface of said fold of said second panel corresponding to each receiving means in said panel, an elastic tape lying inside said fold adjacent each of said openings and each having an end portion extending through one of said opening, said elastic tapes secured at one end to said second panel section, and secured at the other end to said fastening element, on the outer surface of said fold outside of said second panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,814,760 7/1931 Miller 2-265 1,826,803 10/1931 Lubell 2-237 1,982,527 11/1934 Manekin 2265 X 2,893,012 7/1959 Kahn 2-141 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,077 3/ 1911 Great Britain.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

